Just got back from a Q&A with John Carpenter

[Kage]

It was incredible. They screened The Thing and Carpenter did a Q&A afterwards. He was funny, insightful and inspiring but never took himself overly serious.

And seeing a film projected on the big screen just makes it so much more magical. I had seen the Thing on VHS and I have a whole new appreciation for it. The special effects (all real time puppetry except for ONE shot) are breathtaking and the whole film is beautifully shot and paced. Amazing.

Discuss anything related ITT.

[Strum]

i hate you

[Cocaine]

Did you antagonize him and get tased? Was Kurt Russell there?

[thedeadwalk!]

The defibrillator scene where the guy's chest opens up and eats the other guy's hands is simply amazing.

He's got a good body of work: Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing, Vampires, Big Trouble in Little China, In the Mouth of Madness.

Truly enjoyable stuff.

[JohnXDoe]

i like Carpenter. entertaining and sometimes interesting filmmaker. i get the feeling he over reaches his grasp sometimes, but all in all i think his work is solid. i also think The Thing was and still is a somewhat underrated remake. i rather enjoy it myself.

[Kage]

The defibrillator scene where the guy's chest opens up and eats the other guy's hands is simply amazing.

Agreed. That was great.


i like Carpenter. entertaining and sometimes interesting filmmaker. i get the feeling he over reaches his grasp sometimes, but all in all i think his work is solid. i also think The Thing was and still is a somewhat underrated remake. i rather enjoy it myself.
I didn't realize how good The Thing was until I saw it tonight. And I love the way Carpenter handled the material in Halloween as well. He's up there with the great horror directors.

[Cocaine]

He never takes himself too seriously, which is great.

[Grant]

Did anyone ask him for his thoughts on Zombie's Halloween remake?

[AlienEater]

The Thing is one of my favourite movies

I like a lot of his others. some suck though

[A Dead Modernist]

I enjoy some of his work, not really a big fan. Awesome experience you got to take part of though.

[VomitStainedCretin]

The Thing is fantastic, though I haven't seen it in ages. Halloween was meh IMO. I have Escape From New York on video but haven't watched it yet.

[Kage]

Did anyone ask him for his thoughts on Zombie's Halloween remake?

Yeah, that was one of the first questions. He just goes, "I haven't seen it yet" and someone said, "You mean they haven't sent you a copy?" and he goes, "**** no." lol



The Thing is one of my favourite movies

I like a lot of his others. some suck though

Yeah, I love The Thing and Halloween but I'm not a massive fan of his. It was just great to see such a legendary director in person, etc. Plus, like I said, it gave me a new appreciation for him, and The Thing especially.

[Incognito]

Yeah, that was one of the first questions. He just goes, "I haven't seen it yet" and someone said, "You mean they haven't sent you a copy?" and he goes, "**** no." lol





Yeah, I love The Thing and Halloween but I'm not a massive fan of his. It was just great to see such a legendary director in person, etc. Plus, like I said, it gave me a new appreciation for him, and The Thing especially.


Same, not a massive fan, but I do love the Thing, appreciated Halloween and enjoy escape from New York.

What kind of other questions was he being asked, anything about Kuyrt Russell?

EDIT: Also, I'm super jealous. :p

[Luc214]

It was incredible. They screened The Thing and Carpenter did a Q&A afterwards. He was funny, insightful and inspiring but never took himself overly serious.

And seeing a film projected on the big screen just makes it so much more magical. I had seen the Thing on VHS and I have a whole new appreciation for it. The special effects (all real time puppetry except for ONE shot) are breathtaking and the whole film is beautifully shot and paced. Amazing.

Discuss anything related ITT.

Agreed, the special effects for that film are amazing, even by today's standards.

My favorite shot is right after the guy's chest opens up and eats the guys's hands, when the camera swoops in and you see hints of something moving around in there, I haven't seen the film in awhile but I'm sure you know what shot I mean.

The only thing I didn't like about The Thing was that the end seemed a little much, after all the claustrophobic horror they have this seemingly obligatory "big, epic" showdown that didn't really fit, nor was it that big and epic.

[Incognito]

The end is great, you're left wondering if the thing is truely dead or not.

Great kind of "This is what I think happens after the credits" ending.

[Luc214]

I meant the big showdown with the huge monster.

[Incognito]

Oh yea, ok maybe I should read the whole post next time @@.

I see what you're saying, but I do feel it was a bit necessary to have the ending it has, plus the "AH, F#%$ YOU!" line is great.

[Luc214]

I just felt that the abrupt change from the more claustrophobic terror to a big explosive finish didn't really work.

Still a great film though.

[Incognito]

I just felt that the abrupt change from the more claustrophobic terror to a big explosive finish didn't really work.

Still a great film though.


:chug: T'is a great film.

I dunno, it still works for me, even though I do agree with what you're saying MacReady is suddenly left alone which adds a different element of terror is that particular sequence, it is also a bit of an anti-climax since like you said, it wasen't a huge showdown. It shows up looking all mean and gets dynamite thrown at it, end of battle.

Ah well, to each his own.

[Squirrel]

I didnt think it was meant to be a 'big epic finish', i've never had that impression of it.

[Cocaine]

Isn't The Thing a remake, or am I making that up?

[Luc214]

Yes it was.

[Squirrel]

Essentiall yeah,, its heavily heavily influenced by The Thing from another World.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044121/

[Kage]

It's technically a remake, but it was based more off the novella than the original movie (which was also based on the novella, but was very very different).